dream zoo tank design questions

[lovetoreef]

well, after looking at tanks full of zoos, it is time for me to get back in the game - so, please help me design my new tank -

I would really love to do a something like a 24" long tank chuck full of zoos and rics - light bioload - i envision a display tank with a refugium below with no skimmer - auto top-off and other equipment besides temperature regulation - what all do i need to incorporate to create a successful zoo tank?? thanks

 

[rubysmomma1]

Don't forget about the lighting. I pretty much no nothing about lights, but we have T5 60/40s and actinics on our 4' long, 75 gallon tank and all our zoas are happy. We probably have 10 or so different kinds and they're all growing and seem happy. They all have a lot of color too them too.

I'm gonna watch your post, since I'm beginning a zoa garden the end of the summer!!

 

[gemini aquarius(t)]

ok well a good tank would probably be like a 20 gallon high(24'' long) for lighting you can either go with 2x65 watt power compacts, a 150/250 watt hqi metal halide,or like a 4-6 bulb T5HO set up i pesonally would do the 250 HQI but thats just me
you can get the 10-20 gallon refugium with a mag 12 return pump and a coralife 65 super skimmer(great skimmer for only like 80 bux!way better than an aqua c remora IMO) you can do a heater rock sand all that crap i would rather go with a skimmer than a refugium any day! thats it!

hth
xavier

 

[fishes2889]

Well the PC's would be the best way to go. Zoa's need light but they dont need MH's in a 20 long. Ric's dont need that much light at all but they still need to have clean water. 20 long sound good to me. You could have a 10g sump/refugium for that. if you are going to have a sump/refugium your probably going to one day get a skimmer if not when you first set it up. I would definatly put a skimmer on all tanks higher than 15g(except for the AP and the NC). just my opinion........

Steve

 

[gemini aquarius(t)]

steve. he said that he thinks the 24'' would be good thats why i reccomended the 20 high but do u really think the power compacts would be better than t5s?
why?
just wondering cause i was under the impression thatzoos liked high light am i wrong>>?

 

[CoralNutz]

Or you could get a oceanic 37 cube

24"x18" footprint... like 21" high I think..Same dimensions as a 75 cut in half...

more photos here....
http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/coralnutz/

 

[jessiesgrrl]

Wow, you should change your name to "Zoa Plethorist"

Very nice..
Laurie

 

[lovetoreef]

great advice - thanks ... still researching